Corridor driving instructor educates community on driving on icy roads

by Kayla James

Ron Bandy of the Ron Bandy Driver Education driving away to teach the rest of his students in the Corridor.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, CBS 2/FOX 28 —

With winter weather comes the possibility of terrible road conditions. There is never a guarantee that you can avoid a car accident when it comes to icy roads, but knowing the ins and outs of a vehicle could be a helpful start.

"They have limits and sometimes folks forget about that and cause problems for themselves as well as other people,” said Ron Bandy, the driver instructor at Ron Bandy Driver Training and Education.

Bandy has been a driving instructor in the Corridor area for more than fifteen years. Between his actual students and others on the road, he’s seen his fair share of drivers who struggle in the winter.

"You can drive for 30 miles and have no troubles whatsoever and then that last stretch you hit a patch of ice and you're off the road,” said Bandy.

When teaching his students, Bandy makes sure to always include safety precautions for driving in the snow or on ice. According to Bandy, one of the best ways to stay safe on weather-impacted roads starts from before you even leave your parking spot.

"Before you even buckle up or when you buckle up, you should have those headlights on,” said Bandy. “To be noticed and to be seen, so that you don't get hit or you don't get overlooked."

Other tips Bandy gives include making sure the windshield wipers are at their best, meaning they don’t leave any streaks on the window at any time. Some additional ways include checking on street conditions before getting on the road and having an alternative route already planned just in case the main streets are closed off.

For those times when the roads are covered in snow, Bandy makes sure his students know how to use the surrounding area to their advantage.

"You want to look at the tire tracks, look at the orientation of the traffic lights, look at the movement of the other vehicles, and hopefully those things will help you out with that,” said Bandy.

While he notes it’s important to learn how to avoid a car accident due to poor weather conditions, he teaches his students that it’s just as important to know what to do if an issue on the road happens.

"Jumper cables definitely help out quite a bit. Your cell phone can help out a lot,” said Bandy. “Definitely have some kind of a flashlight."